Dynamic variations of a convection flow reversal in the subauroral postmidnight sector as seen by the SuperDARN Hokkaido HF radar

[1] The SuperDARN Hokkaido HF radar, capable of measuring the subauroral ionospheric plasma convection especially during storms, has been in continuous operation since the beginning of December 2006. We report the first two-dimensional observation of a dynamic variation of convection flow reversal in subauroral postmidnight sector during the storm main phase on 29 January 2007. The flow reversal region is extended over 20° in longitude and 5° in latitude, lasting for about 10–15 min, and the maximum flow speed is about 0.5–1.0 km/s. The flow reversal structure is reasonably reproduced by the ring current simulation coupled with the ionosphere, suggesting that it is produced by the region 2 field-aligned current associated with the ring current enhancement during the storm main phase. The dynamic variation of the flow reversal structure is interpreted as a transient eastward extension of the elongated dusk convection cell to the postmidnight and equatorward of the dawn cell, associated with the variation of the ring current whose structure is controlled by the interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind dynamic pressure. It is suggested that the ring current variation is highly coupled with the interplanetary parameters and is much more complicated than ever thought.